List of smartphones and apps with inbuilt QR Code reader

Shubhi Mall |
March 11, 2016

In this smartphone age, we usually see QR Codes on newspapers ads, product packaging, or business cards. This proves that QR Codes are not unknown. QR Codes were introduced way back in 1994, yet their popularity is threatened with a major bottleneck – a QR Code Reader on a smartphone.

For a long time, smartphone manufacturers did not ship their phones with a QR Code scanning app. Users had to download an app if they wanted to decode a QR Code.

But this is changing. Due to increasingly popularity of these QR Codes, especially in China and South East Asia, handset manufacturers in the region are either adding QR Code scanning feature in the native camera apps or shipping the phone with a third-party app that has the feature.

So we compiled a list for you to check if you really need to download a QR Code scanning app.

A. Handsets with Native Camera Apps

The following handsets have QR Code scanning features directly installed in the native camera app of the smartphone:

1. Xiaomi

You will find a QR Code scanner inbuilt in the camera of the Xiaomi smartphone models Like Xiaomi Mi 3, Mi4, MEIZU m2, Xiaomi Redmi along with other camera features.

2. Lenovo

In Jun 2015, Lenovo launched its K3 Note which has an inbuilt QR Code scanner in the camera along with the basic shooting modes – Normal, Panorama, and Effects.

3. Motorola

The Motorola Camera app is also comes with an inbuilt QR Code scanner. The scanner is inbuilt in the second generation series Moto G5, Moto X, the Moto X Pro, Moto Maxx, Moto Turbo and DROID Turbo.

Other Motorola users can update their camera app to get the inbuilt QR Code scanner feature.

7. Huawei

B. Apps with QR Code scanning feature

If you have one of these apps installed on your handset, then you don’t need to download a separate QR Code scanning application.

1. WeChat

WeChat, the most popular messaging app in China, has an inbuilt QR Code reader which allows you to scan QR Codes, including WeChat QR Codes that allow you to add friends.

2. UC Browser

The UC Browser app has an inbuilt QR Code scanner which allows you to read any QR Code content. If you have this browser pre-installed then you don’t need to install a third-party QR Code reader on your phone.

3. Opera Mini

Opera Mini has added a QR Code scanner in its first update of 2016. Note that the QR Code scanner in Opera Mini only works on QR Codes that contain URLs. For any other content, the browser will run a Google Search.

Did we miss your handset that can scan QR Codes without the need to download an app? Do you know of any apps that have QR Code scanning feature? Mention in the comments below and we will add it to our list.

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Shubhi Mall

Shubhi Mall is a big fan of mobile marketing and passionately writes about O2O technology, SEO, and Social Media. When not writing, she is busy either watching rom-com movies or gardening. Shubhi is a Content Writer with Scanova.